Knapsack or pack carrying harness



F. P. CLAPPIER KNAPSACK OR PAOIQ CARRYING HARNESS Nov. 11, 1941.

Fil ed April 26, 1940 p/ M v INVENTOR:

Frank E .C

Patented Nov. 11, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,262,313 KNArsAcK on PACK CARRYING HARNESS Frank P. Clappier, Philadelphia, Pa. Application April 26, 1940, Serial No. 331,718

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a knapsack or packcarrying harness, useful to soldiers, hunters, hikers, etc. i

With the usual types of such harnesses, the knapsack or pack isso supported or suspended that the load or weight rests against the middle of the wearers back. Accordingly, due to rhythmic motioninduced in the load incident to walking or marching, the knapsack or pack will bob to and fro, and intermittently strike against the back of the wearer. This is extremely fatiguing on long andrapid marches, and particularly so if loosenessdevelops in the harnesses.

My invention is directed toward overcoming the above drawbacks and contingencies, which objective I attain, as will appear from the more detailed description which follows, through provision of a carrying harness of simple and inex pensive construction, which can be quickly donned or removed, which can be readily adjusted to suit persons of different stature, and by which the load is supported on and above the shoulders of the wearer entirely free of contact with the wearers back.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing how the knapsack or pack is supported on the person of the wearer by my improved carrying harness.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the organization by itself, with the harness arranged as it would be positioned on the wearer.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the organization as it appears when viewed from the right of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 shows the organization as viewed from beneath.

For convenience of illustration herein, the pack to be carried is shown as being in the form of a knapsack 5 of rectangular configuration which in practice may be suitably constructed from water-impervious canvas or the like, and which, after more or less common practice, is provided with a top closure flap 6.

The carrying harness with which this invention is more especially concerned, includes a pair of main straps 1, 8 and a pair of supplemental straps 9 and I0. As shown in Fig. 4, the main straps 1 and 8 are detachably connected by means of snap-hooks II and I2 respectively, to rings I3 and I4 permanently secured to the bottom of the knapsack or pack adjacent the opposite ends of the latter. The main straps I and 8 can be adjusted for length by shifting slide buckles shown at l5 and I6, and are provided at their free I1 and I8 respectively, which are preferably of a quick engageable and releasable type.

The supplemental straps 9 and. in are suitably secured to the knapsack or pack 5 at laterally spaced points near the top, and, like the main straps are individually provided with slide buckles l9 whereby they may be adjusted for length. At their free ends, the supplemental straps 9 and ID are fitted with snap hooks 29 for engaging rings 2| and 22 on the main straps 1 and 8.

In applying the knapsack or pack, the main straps 1 and 8 of the harness are first crossed as shown in Fig. 2, then passed over the shoul ders of the wearer from back to front, then brought rearwardly under the arm pits and across the wearers back, and finally connected together at their ends by interengaging the clasp elements Iland l8. With this accomplished, the supplemental straps 9 and ID are brought rearwardly and the hooks 2|] at their free ends engaged with the rings 2| and 22 on the main straps 1 and 8. It is to be noted that the rings 2| and 22 are secured to the straps 1 and 8 at the regions where the latter extend over the tops of the wearers shoulders. By properly adjusting the length of the straps '|-l0, it is possible to determine a position for the knapsack or pack 5 where its weight will be supported on and above the shoulders of the wearer as shown in Fig. 1. In this position, the knapsack or pack 5 cannot cause discomfort since it is prevented from bobbing to and fro and striking against the lower part of the wearers back, which ordinarily takes place with the usual types of knapsacks or pack harnesses incident to walking or marching as has been already pointed out hereinbefore. As a matter of fact, my improved carrying harness will tend to straighten the shoulders thereby enhancing the soldierly appearance of the wearer and indirectly tend to maintain a better mental attitude under trying circumstances, as well as increasing a man's marching efliciency from thirty to fifty per cent. After the carrying harness has once been properly adjusted to the wearer, it will be unnecessary to disconnect the supelemental straps 9 and H) from the main straps 1 and 8 each time that the knapsack or pack is removed or replaced.

Thus from the foregoing, it will be seen that I have provided a simple and inexpensive knapsack or pack harness which is easily and quickly applied or removed, and which occasions the mini ends with mutually-interlocking clasp elements mum discomfort or fatigue to the wearer.

centered vertically at the level of the wearer's shoulders; means for connecting the free ends of said straps; supplemental straps respectively secured to the sides of the knapsack or pack below the top for holding the knapsack or pack upright, and extending downwardly and forwardly to the main straps; and means for connecting the free ends of the supplemental straps to the main straps at the regions where the latter 10 straps extend over thewearers shoulders.

FRANK P. CLAPPIER. 

